Jim Parsons reveals he is gay to the New York Times

The award-winning actor also spoke of his long-term relationship

May 24, 2012

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WRITTEN BY: Scott Hixson

Image Source: nomen.nescio via Flickr

Jim Parsons has confirmed for the New York Times that he is gay and in a long-term relationship. The Emmy-winning star of CBS’s The Big Bang Theory revealed the information throughout a profile that ran in today’s New York Times.

It is not clear why Jim Parsons chose to reveal the much-speculated details of his personal life at this junction of time, or why, for that matter, he chose to keep the information private to this point.

Confirmation of Jim Parsons’ sexual preference came when the article referred to Parsons’ former role in the play The Normal Heart. The play focused on the AIDS epidemic that occurred in New York in the '80s. The article reads, “The Normal Heart resonated with him on a few levels: Mr. Parsons is gay and in a 10-year relationship, and working with an ensemble again onstage was like nourishment, he said.” Jim Parsons played a gay-rights activist in The Normal Heart.

The Emmy Award and Golden Globe-winning “Dr. Sheldon Lee Cooper” of The Big Bang Theory is taking the occasion to promote his future lead in the Broadway production Harvey. Jim Parsons has played both straight men and gay men before. The example of “Sheldon” proves ambiguous as his character is much-too socially awkward to resonate with an audience in either way. It is believed the revelation of his homosexuality will likely not have a drastic impact on his acting career.

The actor, 39, was unofficially “outed” in 2010 when The National Enquirer revealed news of a rumored engagement to partner Todd Spiewak. Parson’s conversation with the New York Times marks the first time he has spoken publicly about his sexual orientation.